The Glacier Haus Bistro and Pizza opened in Government Camp late last year
and business is good, according to Jerry Kropacek, general manager and
owner, along with his parents, Slava and Dasha Kropacek.

“That’s because every mountain town needs a restaurant with a true Alpine
feel, serving European specialties with contemporary American fare,” Jerry
Kropacek.

Locals and visitors to Government Camp apparently agree. The charming
restaurant and bar seats 45 and most weekend nights, it’s full.

“We have been busy” said Kropacek, “and we are looking forward to expanded
seating and patio service in the summer. “

The Glacier Haus is just the kind of business Dasha and Slava Kropacek
envisioned when they immigrated from Czechoslovakia in 1986.

Restricted by the Communist government that forbid them any hope of
owning their own business, they left seeking freedom and a brighter future.
The family landed in San Francisco in 1989, when Jerry was just 6 and his
brother Robert was 9. Before long, the family began looking for a mountain
community similar to the Bohemian village they had left, eventually ending up
near Mount Hood.

Dasha and Slava went to work cooking and serving customers, even running
the Ivy Bear Restaurant in Sandy for a time.

In 1999, they began operating the Multorpor Restaurant at Skibowl East,
where they made traditional goulash and schnitzel specialties popular with
skiers and boarders for 13 years.

Jerry eventually graduated from Western Oregon University in 2010, and
enjoyed an extensive tour of Europe.

When he returned, it was time to settle down.

“We were looking for a business we could run as a family and when this
location came up, we went for it,” he said.

Once a small grocery store, the family spent most of last summer completing
an extensive remodel. His brother, now working in Nevada, came up to help.
They opened the Glacier Haus in November.

Besides serving great food with a full bar, the Glacier Haus serves Pilser Urqell
on tap, the original Pilsner beer created in Pilsen, Czech. Ask Jerry for the
perfect three- finger half-liter pour. He has it mastered, which he
demonstrated to the Pilser Urquell brew master who met with local purveyors
during a recent visit to Portland.

It’s been a great journey, his parents, now married 34 years, agree. “Life is
good. We work hard, we’re together and that makes us happy,” Dasha said.

The Glacier Haus is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
weekdays; and till 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays. It is located at 88817 E.
Government Camp Loop Road.